Eric Chandler, a student at Sunshine Elementary, was one of six national winners in the recent Reading Is Fundamental's Full STEAM Ahead with Books art competition.

It was sponsored by Nestlé USA, and encourages students to create art that expresses how books have fueled interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — or STEAM subjects.

Sunshine's RIF coordinators are Bo and Rachel Barks. As a result of the win, Sunshine will receive a 40 book multicultural STEM set emblazoned with stickers commemorating Eric's accomplishment, plus $1,250 worth of additional books and a cash prize for a reading celebration and recognition ceremony for the award winner, according to a news release.

The competition is part of RIF's multi-year early childhood literacy campaign to inspire the next generation of innovators through an approach integrating the arts with STEM learning.

RIF of Springfield is a not-for-profit volunteer literacy organization that provides free books three times a year to students, grades 1-2, in the Springfield Public Schools, St. Joseph Catholic Academy and Springfield Lutheran School.

Two elementary schools celebrate partnership, help others

In early May, the Disney Elementary community donated unsold garage sale merchandise to Weller Elementary.

Victory Mission, a community partner, hauled the items to Weller. On May 8 and 9, the school hosted a garage sale and more than $1,600 was raised for the school's Cents of Pride store — which provides hygiene, clothing, shoes and more for students who earn them by collecting PRIDE bucks, according to a news release.

In addition to raising money for the PRIDE and Family Pride stores, Principal Marilyn Monroe said the garage sale helped raise awareness about the two schools' partnership in both communities, the release said.

"What amazes me and what is so important is how powerful partnerships can be and what can be done when everyone works together," she said. "That's why we want to honor them at a special Volunteer Dinner May 20. We got to keep the word out that there, that these volunteers can do amazing things for our students."

Two Springfield elementary schools earned a special celebration for outstanding attendance. It was thrown by Papa John's Pizza, a community partner. It honors the schools with the highest percentage of students that show up all of the time.

This year's winners include:

• Harrison Elementary had 61 students achieve perfect attendance. It was 14.99 percent of the enrollment.

• Weaver Elementary had 35 students achieving perfect attendance. It was 11.08 percent of the enrollment.

According to a news release, in addition to parties at the top two schools, more than 1,100 students had perfect attendance for the 2013-14 year. Each of those students will receive a free pizza coupon.

To submit the academic, extracurricular or community achievement of a youth, email education reporter Claudette Riley at criley@news-leader.com.